South SHields – fragglefilm

Film Friday ~ project South Shields ~red

May 26, 2023May 24, 2023Posted in Contax Aria, Film, Kodak Gold 200, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Contax Aria, film, fraggle, Kodak Gold 200, photography, South SHields20 Comments

When I moved up North in 2005 my first abode was in a flat above a pub called The Dolly Peel on Commercial Road in South Shields. I lived there a year or so before moving in with Phil in Gateshead and Shields is still my favourite place to go with a camera. There are lots of nice bits, the coast with it’s ‘internationally famous’ magnesian limestone coastline, Souter Lighthouse, Marsden Rocks, Arbeia Roman Fort, interesting historical architecture and all sorts of outdoor artworks. I’ve photographed a lot of it, but mostly in digital, so I’m starting over with film. The town centre was not doing so well. Like a lot of seaside towns it’s gradually declined (in line with the country as a whole) but now the Council is redeveloping it and knocking down old empty shops and replacing them with a college campus including a new public square, gardens and green spaces. They’re using some of the ones they don’t knock down for introducing a food hall or indoor market space. Apparently this is all being done with the input of the local people after 1000 residents answered a survey asking them what they want. So things will change, and hopefully I’ll get to shoot them when they happen.

On this outing I Walked up King Street, which is the main retail street, to the Market place with Phil who wanted to (guess what?) check out the vinyl stalls. I gave myself a constraint, which was all my shots had to have an element of red in them.

market view restaurant. (*closed permanently*)

on the way back to the car we turn off King Street into Fowler Street and at the corner is Ladbrokes with The Criterion pub/restaurant above it. Built in the 1860s, the building was designed to look like opulent London restaurant The Criterion Grill. It was closed down in 2000 but in 2018 a chap bought it and restored it to its former glory, many of the original features have been salvaged including the original clock from the 1800’s. So it’s up and running again. Must try it out!

no there isn’t a Silence of the Lambs restaurant, but there should be.

That’s it for this Friday but stay tooned!

all pictures taken with my contax aria on Kodak Gold 200 film, and can be embiggened with a click.

Film Friday ~ South Shields beach front ~ Oct 2022

December 2, 2022December 1, 2022Posted in adventures, Contax Aria, Film, kodak portra 400, Photography, South SHields, Tyne & Wear, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, Contax Aria, film, fraggle, kodak portra 400, photography, South SHields23 Comments

After I’d walked around the empty funfair (here) I sallied forth beyond it to the beach front. Very few people around, but I spotted this chap with his camera photographing some little birds that were hopping about. I asked him what they were and Snow Buntings was the answer. They are a sparrow-sized bird that breeds in the Arctic (from Scandinavia to Canada), and winters in the UK, mainly around the coast. Too small for the lens I have on the Contax, but the photographer wasn’t. When Phil saw this he said the guy looks like he’s about to launch an RPG!

I liked the clean lines of the locked up Lifeguard building,

and I liked the additional rainbow that landed on it a moment later as the rain started up.

The rainbow got cut off at the edge of the clouds, but it hung about as I walked up to the skateboard park behind the funfair.

The skateboard park was, unusually, bereft of lads with their derring do, and a lone Seagull sentinel stood aloft awaiting the action.

I realise I’ve grown too old to understand the graffiti alphabet or language of today, I think there’s an M in this. But I liked the mouse. Or maybe the rat?

It was quite cold this day, and I thought she could do with a coat on, or a blanket, but I guess pirates are mean.

If only, a beach bar in Havana, warm sunshine, a Cuban Rumba on the music system, a handsome waiter pouring me a cocktail, sitting by the outside bar and gazing out to sea, ah, if only!

I left Havana, without a cocktail, and wandered up towards the beach at Trow Rocks, where a herd of people, (well 4 anyway) were walking their dogs.

And that’s the end of this roll of Kodak Portra, which I think suits the subject quite well. It was a strange afternoon, I’ve rarely seen the place so unpopulated, even though it was cold (ish), but it was also cool, to be able to focus on what there is, and not what everyone is doing. Peace and tranquility, unexpectedly. I think I’ll go back next summer when it’s all on the go, and do some contrasting photographs.

So thanks for visiting, and stay tooned for whatever comes next!

📷 🎞️ 😊

Film Friday ~ South Shields Funfare ~ Oct 2022

November 25, 2022November 24, 2022Posted in adventures, Contax Aria, Film, kodak gold 400, Photography, Tyne & Wear, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, Contax Aria, film, fraggle, kodak gold 400, photography, South SHields28 Comments

We’re going back to the funfair this week, not with the Ektar diptych maker, but my beloved Contax Aria.

A tiny History Bit

The Funfair is officially known as Ocean Beach Pleasure Park, which sounds very Victorian, which is no surprise as she was Queenie in 1899 when the fair became a permanent fixture. Mostly it’s known as The Fair, as there isn’t another one in our county unless you call Diggerland in Durham a fair, which I don’t.

Prior to 1899, travelling fairs would come along in summer, park up by the market and only be allowed legally to start up once the ordinary market stalls had finished for the day. Eventually they had their own space and could run rides any time. One of the first permanent rides was the Aerial Flight, built in the 1910’s-20’s and cost 1d (old pence) (which would be 0.23 cents in $) for a ride, and advertised that it is suitable and “approved” for all ages. (But not any of my ages, ever.)

STH0000818 Copyright South Tyneside Images 1920’s Ariel Flight Ride.

All gone now, and things are a bit more modern. Well a little bit at least.

Bird poop on his face but surrounded by laydeez, a happy chap.

There were a few Marvellous rides (this is the little bit of modern)

Black Widow being chased by an X-person I think

This chap is doing well for a 94 year old.

Would have had a go on this next one if it had been an option!

These next ones are to do with Peter Pan. Firstly a galleon which swings up high at the front, then wangs itself backwards and swings high at the back. You have a bar to hold onto, which you need when it goes back as your bum leaves it’s seat. I know as I’ve been on one prior to being in my dotage, had to hold my lad from falling out. Very scary biscuits.

This a faceless Captain Hook I believe, he was at the bottom of the steps up to the galleon.

“Death is the only adventure I have left, Smee.” (*Hook 1991*)

you can have

and have lots of

and for your little bambinos

Finally, some surprised elephants. I did wonder if it was a Disney Dumbo thing, but the ears are not long enough and there isn’t a feather in their trunks, so they’re just your average surprised elephants.

My favourite is the Zombie enclosure at the top of the post, might have to go in there when it all opens up again. That’s it for this week, but stay tooned, there’s a few more to come from outside the fair.

📷 🎞️ 😊

Film Friday ~ Kodak Ektar h35 ~ part 3

November 18, 2022November 13, 2022Posted in adventures, diptych, Film, Kodak Ektar H35, kodak gold 400, PhotographyTagged Adventure, film, fraggle, Kodak Ektar H35, Kodak Gold 200, photography, South SHields30 Comments

Camera info ~ This camera is a half frame camera, which means what it says, it only shoots half of a frame of film, so when you put a roll of 36 in it, you get 72 pictures. Neat eh? The camera itself is cute looking but a bit hokey, plastic with no settings other than a flash on/off on the dial around the lens, and the dial is as stiff as a stiff thing on a stiff day. I loaded it with a roll of Kodak Gold 400 and took it everywhere with me but it still took a fair few weeks to finish the frame. I shot the film with the making of dyptichs (2 pictures taken together to complement each other) in mind. I’ll be posting some of them on Fridays.

This set of diptychs will be my last for some while as I’ve a new roll now in the Ektar which will probably take a couple of months to shoot. These are from a little project I’m doing on South Shields sea front.

My first visit was to Little Haven Beach to see the Weebles

and Herd Groyne Lighthouse

the beach was empty of people though evidence of them was apparent.

I went up to Sandhaven and Ocean beaches and had a walk along to the amusement park.

There’s a mini race track for mini people outside one of the arcades.

A bit further on I got to the fairground, which is usually locked up over winter, but I wandered in unchallenged and so started taking photographs. I think one of the arcades was either open or having work done, but they didn’t bother about me.

Verticle spinning bucket thingy and a crazy house.

A good place to end. It was strange to be alone in an amusement park usually shrieking with kids and things spinning and moving all the time. I took some more photos with the Contax so we’ll have a look at those next time.

Stay tooned 😊
📷 🎞️

Friday Film ~ Contax Aria (1)

February 18, 2022February 17, 2022Posted in adventures, Cats, Contax Aria, Film, Fujifilm XP 400, PhotographyTagged Cats, Contax Aria, film, fraggle, Fujifilm XP 400, photography, South SHields20 Comments

I’ve now completed 2 rolls of film on my Aria, had them developed by the wonderful Analogue Wonderland people and sorted them out ready for posting. Not all have turned out well and mistakes were made, but I’ll be leaving those ones in the dustbin of posterity and just posting the ones I like. I am on a steep learning curve with the Aria and though I’ve worked in manual mode before with the Rollei’s it’s been a while so that’s an ongoing refresher too.

The first roll I put through was a Fujifilm Superia X-TRA 400 135/36 Color film, and I started that at the back end of December. These shots are test shots mostly around the house and a few from South Shields. I haven’t faffed with any of them other than to crop or straighten where necessary, I save all that malarky for my digital work. It’s nice just to have them as they are.

like a lot of small coastal towns in the North things have gone downhill, with shops closing down, the shoppers going to Newcastle or Sunderland instead of local. In (a vain~ sorry- cynic) an attempt to regenerate the town centre, the council are demolishing buildings in King Street, which housed Mothercare, and Thorntons (chocolate shop) amongst others. This is in order to ‘clear the way for further development’ and according to Councillor Dixon, “We know that for our town centre to thrive we need to move beyond retail and create a more vibrant environment”. More details HERE.

Back at home we had a snow day. I say snow day but I really mean a snow 2 hours. The picture isn’t so good, I was hanging out the bedroom window and camera shake was a thing, but I had to document the only snow we’ve had this winter so far. 2 hours I ask you? What’s the point in that?

We had Livvy and Matty to stay over one Saturday night, another dodgy shot as I didn’t get the exposure right so the shutter speed was too slow for a crisp shot, but I like it anyway, makes me smile.

Of course I had to turn the Aria on the cats..

Winnie on Phils window sill soaking up some rays.

I have always taken images of the sunsets I see from the bedroom windows, I have an ongoing series of Wardley Sunsets, so I had to see if the Aria would be able to contribute.

So that’s enough for this week. Out of 36 frames I got 19 I was happy enough with, so thats 50%, considering how expensive film is that percentage needs to be improved, but that’s fine, I’m at the beginning of this journey and I’ll get better with practice. Stay tooned for next time when I shot a few frames in Newcastle. 🙂

all pictures clickable and embiggenable, but don’t, they look better smaller 🤣

Canon Sureshot Z135 ~ 2021

July 4, 2021Posted in Canon Sureshot, Film, kodak portra 400, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Canon Sureshot, film, fraggle, kodak portra 400, photography, South SHields, Wardley12 Comments

I got a job lot of old film cameras at the end of last year one of which is a Canon Sureshot Z135. I put a roll of Kodak Portra 400 in it and carried about with me when I was out and about. It’s a sturdy little camera with the usual Canon programs to choose from but no manual controls. It has a 38-135mm fixed zoom lens, and an annoying pop up flash that pops up whether you want it or not.

I wasn’t too impressed with the quality of the shots, quite grainy considering portra is a quality film and the photos were taken in good light. Not terribly impressed wiith the focus either. I have chosen 12 images only from the 36 I shot, so I don’t think I’ll be using this camera overmuch.

Out & About in Wardley

Out and about in South Shields

Le Clic, Revolog Kolor 2020 (2)

March 26, 2021March 25, 2021Posted in Film, Le Clic, Photography, Revolog Kolor 35mm, UncategorizedTagged film, Le Clic, photography, Revolog Kolor, sea, South SHields10 Comments

A few more from the Revolog Color folm, Part 1 can be found HERE.

I found the film to be quite grainy,

but it does remind me of vintage photos!

This one had a uniform cast of green tones.

more green tones

This next one is my favourite, there are some subtle colour casts, top and bottom left and right, which I quite like.

Most of the rest of the photo’s are too green/red tinted, so what with that and the grain I won’t be doing another roll of it. Fun to try things out though so I’m happy!

Film Friday

March 13, 2020March 12, 2020Posted in adventures, Canon EOS 1000FN, Film, kodak portra 400, PhotographyTagged Canon EOS1000FN, fraggle, kodak portra 400, sea, South SHields, weebles15 Comments

We are still on the sea front at South Shields, and as always, I have to photograph the Weebles when I go there. 🙂

I’m quite impressed with the Canon’s close up facility.

I think this is my favourite weeble

I saw a seagull having a barney with a crow

there’s the beginning verse on the other side of this, but the view through the iris isn’t as nice.

so that was the end of my day out at Little Haven beach. See you next week!

Film Friday

March 6, 2020Posted in adventures, Canon EOS 1000FN, Film, kodak portra 400, Photography, UncategorizedTagged beach, Canon EOS1000FN, film, fraggle, kodak portra 400, photography, sea, South SHields14 Comments

I’ve had a couple of scares with the Rollei SL35, twice the film jammed after 20 frames, and on the last outing I got strange effects on some of the shots. As I’m doing a year of film I needed a back up SLR so managed to purchase a Canon EOS 1000F N for £19.99 on EbayIt came with a 35-80mm zoom on it, which isn’t the best lens in the world but does for now. Apparently even newish canon lenses will fit on it so I might treat it to one at some point. I haven’t had a canon before, well I did have a compact canon once but lost it. I took it out with me incase the Rollei jammed again (it didn’t) and quite like it. It’s clunky but easy to use. I had a roll of Kodak Portra 400 in it when I took it to South Shields, and here are some of the photos.

The pictures came out grainier than I expected considering it was a sunny day.

There are a lot of these frondy things by the beach, I got a bit carried away with them 🙂

OK enough with the frondy things.

Yep, the lens isn’t great, I can see a 50mm in my future 🙂

Stay tooned for Weeble week next time!

Film Friday

February 28, 2020February 25, 2020Posted in B&W, Film, Photography, Rolleiflex SL35, Silberra 400, UncategorizedTagged film, fraggle, Rolleiflex SL35, Silberra 400, South SHields, weebles15 Comments

Still with the Rollei SL35 and the roll of Silberra 400, these are the shots I took with it at South Shields. Strangely none of these ones had alien light leaks.

But this one had a lot of hairs on it!

This one did better

I can never resist photographing the Weebles

And that’s the end of the roll of Silberra 400. I like the tonality of this film, it’s not super-contrasty, but that’s great for lots of detail and texture. I’ve still to try out some different B&W films, but would definitely use it again.

Stay tooned, for next time, South Shields beach in colour!

Tynemouth,South Shields & Seaburn, 1995

November 18, 2016February 11, 2017Posted in adventures, Film, Photography, Tyne & Wear, UncategorizedTagged 1995, Adventure, beach, film, fraggle, holiday, memories, photography, sea, South SHields, travel, Tyne & Wear, Tynemouth13 Comments

Before living up here in Tyne & Wear was even a blip on my radar, I brought Ben up for a cheapo holiday. We stayed in a lovely little B&B in Seaburn, and played on the mostly deserted beaches.